Antigua & Barbuda Falcons chased down the target successfully, posting 188/6 with Andries Gous unbeaten on 85 and support from Wickham’s 26. Earlier, the Barbados Royals had set up 187/4, powered by Brandon King’s 98 not out and Rutherford’s 29. The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons clinched the victory by four wickets, with impressive Daniel Sams (2/13) in 4 overs and 3.25 economy, being the standout bowler for the Falcons.
In a thrilling final-ball encounter in Bridgetown, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons almost let the game slip away, relying too heavily on singles and doubles during their chase of 188. However, Shamar Springer stepped up to hit the match-winning runs, securing a vital victory that solidified their position in third place on the points table.
Rovman Powell, the captain of the Royals, thought they had set a good target, but they dropped six catches, four from Chris Green and two from Daniel Sams. With only one point from six matches, their chance to qualify is shrinking.
Falcons Strengthen Playoff Hopes with Last-Ball Victory vs Barbados Royals
At the Kensington Oval, fans got their money’s worth as the Falcons clinched a win off the very last ball.
They started well, with Gous and Jangoo finding early momentum. But Jangoo’s knock was cut short by a brilliant slower one from Daniel Sams. The left-arm pacer kept the pressure on, picking up three wickets in total.
Gous was the hero for the Falcons, carrying his bat and scoring 85 not out. Shakib, Wickham, and skipper Imad cameos with useful runs. It all boiled down to the final over.
When Imad was run out on the second last ball, it looked like the Royals had a chance. But Shamar Springer smashed the last delivery to the fence, snatching victory.
The Royals only have themselves to blame over six dropped catches proved very costly in the end.
Highlights: Barbados Royals vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
Post-Match Interviews: Rovman Powell (Barbados Royals) & Imad Wasim (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons)
Rovman Powell (Captain):
“We just can’t seem to finish games. But credit to our batters, they played really well today. We executed our plans nicely with both bat and ball, but we missed some key chances in the field.
Talking about the final over, it was between me and Sherfane to bowl it. I didn’t want to use a spinner at that point.
We’ve shown some good moments throughout the tournament. Now, we just need to hold our nerves and stay in control for longer periods.”
Imad Wasim (Captain):
“It feels really good to finally get a win. Our bowlers did an excellent job; at one point it looked like they’d score 200, but Salman’s yorkers were outstanding and turned things around for us.
Dropped catches happen, it’s part of the game. But we do need to improve in that area.
We were in control from the start, but then lost a few wickets too quickly, that’s something we have to fix going forward.
The team is starting to click now, and everyone is finding form. In the end, it’s all about putting in the right effort and showing the right attitude, the results will follow.”
Also Read: Most Wickets in Men’s T20s ft. Shakib Al Hasan
Player of the Match- Salman Irshad
Bowling Figure: 4 Overs, 13 Runs, and 2 Wickets with Economy 3.25
“I’ve played a lot of cricket in the PSL and in Bangladesh, so I’ve got good experience bowling in the death overs. During the powerplay, I try to bowl wide to keep things tight, and at the end, I focus on landing those yorkers.
I’ve played in many similar situations back in Pakistan, and I’ve put a lot of work into perfecting my yorkers. I actually enjoy the pressure of bowling in the final overs.
I’ve played under this captain before when I was with Jamaica, and he always backs me and gives me confidence to play to my strengths.
This was a really important game for us. The target was high, but we believed we could chase it because the pitch was good for batting.”
